I guess it will be APM if that is the earliest power management. But I haven't checked as not sure where to look.

Previously on the computer I had ubuntu 10.04 lucid lynx. The problem with this was that it used twice the memory and was slow. I think spotify may have jumped playing tracks. I'm used to using linux and have tried out many distros.

With ubuntu all I had to do was go to system>preferences>power management and set power down after 2 hours and spin down hard drive when possible. If vector linux lacks this feature then it needs to incorporate it into future releases. It may be in deluxe but needs to be in light too.

I wouldn't expect to have to enter the bios or work out whether it is acpi or apm and look at logs etc to peform what is a simple task in other distros. I have been into the BIOS now and changed the power management settings but they don't seem to do anything even when set to a short time-scale. Perhaps programs running are preventing it?

I'm a fan of linux rather than windows but performing simple tasks can sometimes take too much research and trial and error. Well that's my moan over.

First there is a large difference between Ubuntu full install and light, comparing the two side by side is going to lead to disappointment. Any distro for limited hardwareis not usually going to have everything set to automatic.

Do you have Tux on Ice installed and active? I have never done power management and don't know a thing about it, but I think I remember some talk about Tux on Ice being involved. Somebody else would have to tell you how to use it if in fact it has anything to do with power management.

You can set up options for having your monitor go into standby or power off through XFce's Screensaver, Advanced tab.--GrannyGeek

I defer to (man hdparm) , see option (-S) & cautionary notesPlease be aware, all "utilities" are only a "convenience" and merely a front-end to commands/parameters

That applies to scripted, variant system-specific goodies, as well as GUI - magic

Suspending to ram/disc etc, is used primarily for laptops, away from battery chargersA drive uses little power - further, it is *less* stress on hardware to run constantly: ~ Avoiding spin-up &/or temp fluctuations

OTOH _ if you had cpu overheat concerns, there are other Linux tools (cpufreq.d -use w/extreme caution) to alleviate that Whatever the case, best wishes towards accomplishing your aims

EDIT: Granny, I forgot to mention Tux-on-ice is an *alternative* to pm-utils

It is of further note - pm-utils depends on HAL -which is rapidly becoming deprecatedThe newest inception of udev supercedes all (AFAIK , udev is also subject to rapid development changes, primarily in fact it is but a part of the hot-plug sub-system)

« Last Edit: February 21, 2011, 02:47:14 pm by rm-r »

Logged

"Problems are seldom resolved by thinking in the same manner they were created"

Tux on ice could well be what I am looking for! I have bookmarked it and will check out later and get back to you.

(My frustrations are as a new user rather than an experienced user. I see lots of benefits of linux over windows but think it would be nice if was more popular - it deserves to be. Perhaps linux like os such as google chrome os will make this possible. Needs some serious marketing to become popular on desktops. I have to say I much prefer a well programmed GUI to command line - although I do like it I see it as unnecessary a lot of the time and more prone to typos etc)

Overall I'm pleased with vectorlinux and will continue to use it on my desktop and eagerly await the latest release.

The main complaint I hear about linux is not that its not popular enough, but that folks with average or below average IQs eventually give up on it. Glad to hear that you are not in that group. I admit though that the linux learning curve, steep in some instances for even the smartest among us, sometimes poses a bit of a problem.